Lighten up on the cell phone contracts

A House Committee passed legislation yesterday that would allow service members to cancel cell phone, utility, and cable contracts if they change duty stations or if they are deployed.  Deployed troops can keep their phone numbers and reactivate their cell phone accounts when they return.  H.R. 6225 allows a service member to cancel or suspend a contract if they are deployed for 90 days or longer or if they are ordered to make a permanent reassignment move to another location.  No early termination fees can be charged.  Any company that fails to suspend or terminate a service members contract will face misdemeanor penalties of up to $5,000 per person or up to $10,000 per organization.  The bill, Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act of 2008, would also give the service member the right to sue for damages.  The bill passed by a voice vote and is expected to be voted on by the House this summer.